Doctor insights on:
How Long Does Breast Tenderness Associated With Breast Abscess Last

1

Until treated & gone:
A breast abscess may require surgical drainage as well as antibiotics (antibiotics alone don't always work, especially for abscess, and even less for large abscess). Even after drained and effectively treated, there will still be swelling and inflammation from the infection, dependent on the severity and length of time it went untreated. Could be weeks to a few months, worse with menstrual cycles.
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Your breasts may provide the first signs to you that you are pregnant. Women's breasts often get extremely tender and begin increasing in size very early in pregnancy. These changes are preparing you for breastfeeding. The size may increase throughout the first 3 months of pregnancy. It is important to wear a bra that fits and supports your breasts throughout your pregnancy. Your nipples and areolas (the darker skin around the nipples) will darken early in pregnancy. By weeks 12-14, you may start leaking colostrum from your breasts. Colostrum is a fluid made up of water, proteins, minerals, and antibodies that you will feed your baby for the first few days before your milk flows.
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2

If treated....:
If your abscess is treated appropriately with drainage and antibiotics, the fever should resolve within 48-72 hours. The erythema should also improve in that time. It can take up to 1 week for the redness to completely resolve.
If the fever or redness persists, then contact your surgeon, the abscess may not have been completely drained.
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3

Depends on cause!:
Infectious mastitis (and the pain associated with it) resolves as the infection is treated with antibiotics. However, some mastitis is hormone-related and occurs each and every month with menstrual cycles, or can occur when oral contraceptives (hormones) are changed. Recurrent mastitis can aslo be seen in breast feeding mothers, which is a combination of the two issues above. Every woman is unique.
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4

Healing:
Depends on factors of size of abscess, means of treatment such as an open wound, how long it takes to heal, if the infection tries to recur, any medical factors such as diabetes, etc. It may take several days to a few weeks. If it is not improving as you feel it should be, contact your doctor for an examination.
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5

4-6 weeks:
Once the abscess is treated (drainage and antibiotics), there can be residual lumpiness that is inflammed tissue. This can take at least 4-6 weeks to resolve and feel like "normal" lumpy breast tissue.
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6

Resolve w/ treatment:
Malaise with a breast abscess is not a common symptom. This usually means a more serious infection that may be beyond the breast. Treatment for a breast abscess included drainage/aspiration and antibiotics. I highly recommend you contact your doctor for a complete evaluation.
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7

If treated....:
If your abscess is treated appropriately with drainage and antibiotics, the fever and chills should resolve within 48-72 hours. If the fever/chills persists, then contact your surgeon, the abscess may not have been completely drained (can happen with a complex abscess) or you may need a different antibiotic. This may mean the infection has spread beyond the breast.
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8

If treated....:
If your abscess is treated appropriately with drainage and antibiotics, the fever should resolve within 48-72 hours. If the fever persists, then contact your surgeon, the abscess may not have been completely drained (can happen with a complex abscess) or you may need a different antibiotic.
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9

Can be:
Several weeks. Depends on the size of the infection, healing of an open wound, etc. If there is increasing pain or swelling at the site, see your doctor to be sure it is healing properly.
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Abscess is a condition in which a person has an infection in a part of his body, and the infection is being surrounded and fought off by his white blood cells, causing a lump of purulent whitish thick material (pus) where the infection is. Abscesses can be very small like an acne pustule, or they can be several inches in diameter.
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